Monday, March 19, 2007

I finished The Ruby in the Smoke by Philip Pullman last night. Pullman's works are usually published as kid's or YA (young adult) books, but they go beyond that simple qualifier. Often YA books are simplified and softened for their target market - in contrast, Pullman's books are often challenging and dark. For example, The Ruby in the Smoke, is set in Victorian London and features opium abuse, implied child abuse and multiple killings.

I've been a fan of Pullman ever since I read his His Dark Materials trilogy a few years ago but I hadn't sought out his other books. Finding this one in the library reminded me of how much I enjoy his books and I will look for the sequels.